Home Remedies to Remove Earwax

Earwax, medically known as cerumen, is a natural substance produced by glands in the ear canal that has protective, lubricating and antibacterial properties. The main work of the wax is to protect the ears from bacteria and other external agents.

Most of the time, there is a slow and orderly migration process inside the ear canal in which earwax and skin cells are transported from the eardrum to the ear opening, where it can be easily removed.

However, problems can occur when there is a blockage or impaction of earwax. It can accumulate deep inside the ear canal mainly due to the use of objects, such as bobby pins, Q-tips or cotton swabs, which ultimately push the wax deep inside the ear. People who use ear plugs or hearing aids are also more prone to earwax blockage.

Excessive earwax also may buildup due to a narrowing of the ear canal resulting from some kind of infection or disease of the skin, bones or connective tissue.

It can also happen due to production of a less fluid form of cerumen or overproduction of cerumen due to some trauma or blockage within the ear canal. Deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids, zinc and magnesium can also produce more earwax.

Some of the signs and symptoms of accumulation of excessive earwax are earache, feeling of fullness in the ear, an uncomfortable sensation in the ear, noises in the ear (tinnitus), temporary hearing loss and itching.

You can get help from your family physician or an ear specialist to remove earwax. There are also ear drops and wax removal kits in the market that you can buy.

At the same time, there are many simple natural remedies to unblock and remove hardened earwax from your ears. With any of the home remedies, you may need to repeat them several times depending on the extent of the wax accumulation. However, do not use this remedies if you have a perforated ear drum and get the problem treated by a professional.

Note: Follow the remedies very carefully or else the wax impaction may worsen. If the symptoms persist even after trying the home remedies a few times, make sure you consult your doctor. Do not try to self-treat your condition if you have a hole or a tube in your eardrum.

Here are the top 10 home remedies to remove earwax.

1. Salt Water

Salt water is the best earwax removal solution that can be used at home. It can soften the wax accumulated inside the ear, making it easy to get rid of.

Salt Water for Ear Wax Removal

Mix one teaspoon of salt in one-half cup of warm water until the salt dissolves completely.

Soak a cotton ball in the saline solution.

Tilt the affected ear up toward the sky. Squeeze the cotton ball to put a few drops of the saline water into the ear.

Stay in the same position for three to five minutes.

Next, tilt your head in the opposite direction to allow the saline water to drain out.

Clean the outer part of your ear with a clean cloth to remove the softened wax.

2. Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is another very effective remedy for excess earwax accumulation. Due to its effervescent property, hydrogen peroxide can remove the earwax and debris from the ear canal very easily.

Mix equal parts of hydrogen peroxide (3 percent) and water.

Fill an ear dropper with this solution.

Tilt your head sideways and put a few drops of this solution into the ear.

Leave it for some time, and then tilt your head towards the opposite side to drain out the solution.

Wipe away the earwax using a clean cloth.

3. Baby Oil

To soften earwax and facilitate its removal, you can also use baby oil.

Fill an ear dropper with baby oil.

Tilt the affected ear toward the sky and put two to five drops of the baby oil into the ear.

Place a cotton ball at the ear opening to prevent oil from oozing out.

Leave it for several minutes.

Remove the cotton ball and tilt your head the opposite direction to drain out the extra oil.

Clean the ear opening with a soft cloth.

Instead of baby oil, you can also use mineral oil.

4. Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol

An age-old remedy to remove excess wax from your ear is a vinegar and rubbing alcohol solution.

The mixture will help dissolve the earwax. Plus, the alcohol will serve as a drying agent and evaporate at a low temperature and the vinegar will fight bacteria and fungi, and hence prevent any kind of ear infection.

Mix equal parts of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol in a bowl.

Soak a cotton ball in the solution.

Tilt the affected ear toward the sky and then squeeze two or three drops of this solution into the ear.

Wait for five minutes and tilt your head to the opposite direction so that gravity can bring out the solution as well as the wax.

Remove the earwax from the outer ear with an ear bud.

This remedy can also be used to treat swimmer’s ear.

5. Warm Water

Flushing your ear with warm water will also help get rid of excess earwax. The gentle force of the water will dislodge the wax, making it easier to remove. Be sure to use only clean and filtered water.

Fill a rubber-bulb syringe with slightly warm water (body temperature).

Tilt your head upright and pull the outer ear to straighten the ear canal.

Use the syringe to put a small amount of water into the ear canal.

Leave it for a minute and then drain it out by tilting your head to the opposite side.

Clean away the water and earwax with a clean cloth.

6. Olive Oil

Another simple way to remove excess earwax is olive oil. Olive oil can soften the wax, making it easier to come out of the ear. Also, its antiseptic properties will reduce the risk of ear infection.

Slightly warm some olive oil.

Using a dropper, put three or four drops of the warm oil into the affected ear.

khadija

Whispermom

You are asking about a very specific test, without sufficient information: age, gender, presenting problems. A general 13mm/hr is meaningless with regard to home remedies. Please, consult the physician who provided those numbers for a specific diagnosis, and discuss alternative therapies with her.

brenna

janice

When I had an ear infection, I thought I won’t restore my hearing. I had no ear pain, but I felt something was covering my ear…I couldn’t hear on one side and I feel the pressure building that I had headaches everyday. A friend of mine who was a chemist suggested that I should mix coconut oil (5 ml) plus 15-20 drops of lavender oil and apply to both ears. It was really effective… Why don’t you guys try this.

G.Goodwin Jansi

Tonu

What I found in my case was simply not flushing hard enough, I used hydrogen peroxide and ear drops following directions with no results… Finally said why not just flush harder so I sqeezed the bulb hard and what’d you know wax all over bathroom sink after this a few time ear is back to normal

Beth

Doreen

God bless you for sharing your God Given Gifts, I tried taking out wax from my left ear and accidentally pushed it farther down. I came across your Site and tried the Salt Water Drip… Bravo… No More noise nor Fulness. Thank You and God Bless You

Brooke

Take Mineral Oil and drop a couple drops in the ear. Let wax soften for about 10-15 minutes. After a couples tries, take a baby bugger picked and fill with water. Shoot it into the ear and tip to the side into a bowl. Eventually the wax should come out with the water.

Truman

I suffer from frequent ear wax overproduction, it has seemed to have become worse recently, maybe its due to living in the tropics. I have always gone to the doctors but im tired of going every 6-12 months. They used a water syringe with drops if they were unable to remove all the wax. Some of these remedies look more like a “softening of the wax” agent, after the use of salt water or other softeners I’d recommend buying a syringe kit from your pharmacy for approx $12 this will “flush” the ear and clean it. This is the same technique that doctors use, just follow the instructions.

Brad Tipton

My former supervisor at work passed this on to me. His grandson had ear wax issues. An old country doctor recommended using a Water Pik with warm water to clean out the wax, with ear being cleaned aimed down. Adjust the pressure as high as comfortable and rinse out thoroughly, changing the angle of the “squirt” to hit all areas. I plug my bathroom sink and am amazed at the debris that is washed out. I only use warm water, but I assume adding hydrogen peroxide or olive oil or other safe agent to the water would be OK. I have been doing this with no ill effect for about 20 years. Just watch the water pressure.

Jane

When a little girl the removal of ear wax by the instruments the Doctor used was painful. My pediatrician immediately became aware of this and told mother of using equal parts of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide and Distilled Water to irrigate the ear and remove the wax. Lucky me! I had a kind and excellent doctor! Being unsure of the portion of each I found myself now here. Thank you for this information. Pharmacist are afraid to give out this information and so are many doctors as they today they are afraid of being sued if someone should have other problems or go about it in the wrong manner.

Jacquleen

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I have been having a problem with my ear for weeks now. Wouldn’t normally hurt but did if I yawned so my mouth was open wide, but felt clogged constantly. Tried the peroxide/water mix followed by the squirting warm water in there. Now nothing came out but my ear feels so much better. Probably repeat in a day or two to see if I can get it out but I might finally be able to get to sleep!! Again, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

Kaytee

I needed to find something. Three days of the pharmacy stuff was NOT working to unplug my ear and I was uncomfortable and having a hard time hearing. I really didn’t want to go to the doctor, but figured that I would at least try one of these for a day or two to see if I could get any relief before I took the time to miss work and see the doc. I did the rubbing alcohol and vinegar technique. I did it probably 3 times over the course of 2 hours last evening. I was vigorous with it and really flushed it out each time with warm water. Each time, it felt a little less full. I’m still not 100%, but the difference is amazing! I still feel that there is more to clean out, but at least I can hear again! Only issue is my ear is now a little sore from being dried out with the alcohol, so I may have to use a little baby oil to soothe it.

Eric

Remember, Sometimes prevention is better than cure: with build up of wax, maybe one is not eating enough food that needs chewing (with so much easy to eat processed, manufactured food made available today) or not chewing food long enough before swallowing.

Varun

eric

2nd reply thanks prevention is better than cure SOME PEOPLE TODAY EAT TO FAST they are not chewing there food long enough, could it be so much manufactured food today like super soft bread & other super soft food that melt in the mouth think about why is everyone health going bad to worse today